Hustling's The Game In 'Color Of Money'

As The Color of Money opens, we are reintroduced to Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman), hero of The Hustler (1961), now a quarter of a century older and sharper.

Eddie, who has quit playing pool, sells whiskey these days and manages young pool hustlers. His latest discovery is Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise), an exuberant kid who not only has great moves at the table, but also is blessed with a genuine, off-the-wall personal style.

Through most of The Color of Money, we follow Eddie, Vincent and Vincent's girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) on the road to Atlantic City for the big pool playoffs. We watch as old pro instructs young punk in the art of hustling, with Vincent doing his best to learn that in order to get the betting odds up, it's sometimes better to lose than to win.

''It ain't about pool,'' says Eddie flatly. ''It's about money.''

Paul Newman could win an Oscar for his strong, complex performance in The Color of Money. His Eddie Felson, so quick-witted and seemingly imperturbable in the early scenes, eventually drops his foxy pose to reveal some of the raw vulnerability of his Hustler days.

Though this is clearly Newman's picture, Tom Cruise also is a joy to watch. In Top Gun, he was required to smirk and twinkle, and that was about it. Here, as Vincent, he creates an amusing, fascinating character, a high- spirited, chuckleheaded natural.

Directed by Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, After Hours), The Color of Money is rated R and is on view at Interstate Mall 6 and the Fashion Square and University 8 Cinemas.